Shloka 168
Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
अथापीमासु संज्ञासु लौकिकीषु प्रतिष्ठसे । अभिषड्जवरोधाभ्यां बद्धस्त्वं प्राकृतो यथा
athāpīmāsu saṃjñāsu laukikīṣu pratiṣṭhase | abhiṣaḍjavirodhābhyāṃ baddhastvaṃ prākṛto yathā ||
ಇನ್ನೂ ನೀನು ‘ವಿದೇಹರಾಜ’, ‘ಮಿಥಿಲಾಪತಿ’ ಮುಂತಾದ ಲೋಕಿಕ ಸಂಜ್ಞೆಗಳಲ್ಲೇ ಸ್ಥಿರನಾಗಿದ್ದರೆ, ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯನಂತೆ ನೀನು ಆಸಕ್ತಿ ಮತ್ತು ವಿರೋಧ (ದ್ವೇಷ)ಗಳಿಂದ ಬಂಧಿತನಾಗಿದ್ದೀಯೆ.
भीष्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhīṣma warns that clinging to social identities and honorific titles is a subtle form of bondage. True inner freedom requires dropping identification with worldly labels, otherwise one remains constrained by attachment (clinging) and resistance (aversion/obstruction).
In Bhīṣma’s instruction within Śānti Parva’s reflective teachings, he addresses a seeker/kingly figure and challenges their self-conception. By pointing to titles like ‘Videha-rāja’ and ‘Mithilā-pati,’ he shows how even respected identities can keep the mind tied to ordinary patterns of desire and aversion.